Are they using VAR at the World Cup?

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) has become a hotly contested issue in soccer over the past few years. Is it being used at the World Cup?

VAR has divided the soccer community over the past few years as its inclusion in some leagues and tournaments grows. It’s already being used in tournaments like the FA Cup and the Confederations Cup, and slowly making its way into leagues across the world.

The system has been a growing source of concern and consternation the more it’s been used. Its implementation in some leagues and tournaments has proven useful, but the immediacy and unfamiliarity has shown flaws. Goals have been celebrated and counted then taken away minutes later, and calls like offside have proven to be as subjective as ever, even with the ability to stop and slow time to get it right.

Still, VAR is eventually going to be in every league across the world. And it’s taking center stage at the World Cup in Russia.

When used correctly, VAR is a good system and can assist a referee in getting a tricky call right. The game has become so fast and chaotic that a few people running in real time can’t get every call right. VAR helps the referees in the games’ biggest moments, such as red cards, offsides and goals, plays that can change an entire match.

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There are still glitches being worked out, however. Calls can take minutes to decipher, therefore stalling the game and ruining some of the emotion of huge moments. Even then, some calls are still debated. The World Cup will be the biggest stage for this relatively new technology, and fans of the beautiful game everywhere will be hoping that it irons out the wrinkles before it ruins a big moment.